91热爆

With the new American Football season about to kick off, one of London's best known teams is limbering up with a secret tactic- ballet.

Swapping tackles for tutu's the Crystal Palace squad have taken a year out from the British American Football League to rebuild and focus their efforts on winning.

Two smoking barrels

Team Coach Stephen Marcus is also known off the field for his acting career for roles such as 鈥楴ick the Greek鈥� in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

It was his idea to bring in the unorthodox approach to help improve footwork, balance and agility.

He said; 鈥渨hen I first heard of this idea I thought it was a joke but having done some research of my own it makes perfect sense.鈥�

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e the first team in the UK to take ballet lessons onto the pitch!鈥�

Martial arts and gymnastics

The training's already found in sports like gymnastics, martial arts and athletics - but few American Football teams have thrown their weight behind ballet.

Ballet instructor, and finalist in 91热爆 One's Strictly Dance Fever, Rebecca Leonard says: 鈥淚 have been coaching ballet for some years and often help sports individuals hone their balance and agility with ballet techniques."

"However this is the first time I have been asked to work with an American football team!鈥�

The team say they've been inspired by the antics of another US superstar 'The Rock', who appears in Walt Disney's The Game Plan. In the movie the main character's goes from bulky quarterback to a light footed athlete - all thanks to Ballet.

Over in the States athletes of all sports have begun to embrace ballet as an aid to training. Superbowl winner and former top high-hurdler Willie Gault believed his on-field performance and resistance to injury was helped by dance.